Photo collection – German Air Force pilots before heading into battle – Hermann Göring

13 photographs of German Air Force (“Luftwaffe”) pilots before the aircraft depart for battle – Luftwaffe commander and head of the Air Ministry Hermann Göring surveys the area alongside German General Adolf Galland, among others. Germany, early 1940s. (The photographs are marked on the reverse with an AGFA ink stamp).

Photographs: Hermann Göring inspecting the German Stuka aircraft alongside German General Adolf Josef Ferdinand Galland. (Galland participated in 705 combat missions throughout World War II and was considered one of the most dangerous men to the Allies. Toward the end of the war, he had serious disagreements with Göring regarding the best strategy to counter the Allied air raids on Germany. The Luftwaffe’s combat force was under intense pressure by 1944, and Galland was blamed by Göring for its failures. In early January 1945, Galland was dismissed from his command and placed under house arrest following what became known as the “Fighter Pilots’ Revolt, ” in which senior Luftwaffe pilots confronted Göring over the management of the air war. After the war, Galland was employed as an advisor to the Argentine Air Force. He later returned to Germany and ran his own private business.), Luftwaffe pilots arming themselves before boarding their planes; various photographs of the Nazi Stuka aircraft on the ground and in flight.

Photograph size: 12.5x9 cm. Very good condition.